Editing Imperial British Conservative Party

{{Short description|Farcical political party in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}

The '''Imperial British Conservative Party''' was a [[Joke party|farcical political party]] founded by [[Wizard of New Zealand|The Wizard of New Zealand]] in 1974. It "stood for the traditions of [[British Empire|British imperialism]] in the face of [[capitalism]], [[globalisation]] and the distinct lack of culture in [[Christchurch]], New Zealand."<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-09-15|title=Four parody political parties that have existed in New Zealand|language=en-NZ|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11324598|access-date=2020-07-27|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> It was still operating in 1984, though news reports also referred to it as The Wizard Party.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Back In The Day: Imperial British Conservative Party|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/back-in-the-day-imperial-british-conservative-party-6019071|access-date=2020-07-27|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727031127/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/back-in-the-day-imperial-british-conservative-party-6019071|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The party contested the {{NZ election link|1975}} on a platform of conserving the monarchy, waging a fourth world war using votes and notices of motion to convert everyone to the British way of life, and the elimination of work to strengthen the family.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750619.2.148 |title=Wizard's stirring call  |work=[[The Press]] |page=18 |date=19 June 1975 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> It planned to stand a dozen candidates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19750902.2.167 |title=Wizard's plan public |work=[[The Press]] |page=20 |date=2 September 1975 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> The party stood a candidate in the [[1976 Nelson by-election]], where a tabulation error in their final results was attributed to a "hex" placed by the Wizard.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19760301.2.5 |title=Wizard power at work?  |work=[[The Press]] |page=1 |date=1 March 1976 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>

For the {{NZ election link|1978}} it changed its name to the Tory Party.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19780829.2.51 |title=Tory Channell bid |work=[[The Press]] |page=6 |date=29 August 1978 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> It later ran a candidate in the [[1980 Onehunga by-election]].

At the {{NZ election link|1984}} it ran a candidate against Geoffrey Palmer.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840628.2.121.22 |title=TINKERBELL SADLER GEOFFREY PALMER |work=[[The Press]] |page=25 |date=28 June 1984 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> It also ran candidates at the {{NZ election link|1987}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870812.2.105.8 |title=Town's 'blue' status in question |work=[[The Press]] |page=25 |date=12 August 1987 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>

== Activity in Australia ==

The Imperial British Conservative Party also had a presence in Australia, especially during the [[Republicanism in Australia|republican debate]] of the 1990s. The party ran three candidates at the [[1983 Australian federal election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830225.2.69 |title=The deadly serious parties line up |work=[[The Press]] |page=8 |date=25 February 1983 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830304.2.48 |title='Fringe element' in election |work=[[The Press]] |page=6 |date=4 March 1983 |access-date=21 September 2024 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>

One of its candidates, [[Cecil G. Murgatroyd]], had run for parliament in several Australian federal elections, at each time standing against the Prime Minister (initially [[Bob Hawke]]), and in the [[1992 Wills by-election]] after Hawke resigned from parliament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cecil Godfrey Murgatroyd |url=http://electiondisclosures.aec.gov.au/return/wills92/FAD03/20.pdf |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=19 May 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513022307/http://electiondisclosures.aec.gov.au/return/wills92/FAD03/20.pdf}}</ref> In official statements, Murgatroyd listed his occupation as "[[Unemployment benefits|dole]] bludger". At other times, Murgatroyd stood under the banner of another New Zealand joke party, the [[McGillicuddy Serious Party]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In one Australian election in the 1980s, the party promised to dye the Speaker's wig a conservative blue.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

Another candidate, James Ferrari (at one point contesting as Jim Ferrari) ran for the party in the seat of [[Division of Melbourne|Melbourne]] at every election from 1980 until 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=An independent who lists his occupation as 'wizard' is running for the lower house seat of Melbourne, held by the ALP stalwart, Mr Lindsay Tanner. Mr James Ferrari, of West Melbourne, is an unofficial member of the Imperial British Conservative Party|date=12 September 1998 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/122912177/ |publisher=The Age}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041011184706/http://www.wizard.gen.nz/Articles/IBC.html The Wizard's explanation of the IBC's aims and purpose]

{{Defunct Australian political parties}}
{{Historic New Zealand political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Australian fringe and underground culture]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Australia]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Joke political parties in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Joke political parties in Australia]]
[[Category:Political parties with year of establishment missing]]
[[Category:Political parties with year of disestablishment missing]]


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